Kingston Regatta (JULY 2012)

By Harry Joseph - (A.P.L. Falcons)

On Saturday 30th June - Sunday 1st July our scout group went to the National Sea Scout Pulling and Kayaking Regatta in Kingston, London.

We met at the hall and packed all our equipment and personal kit into the trailer and headed off to what we never knew was going to be our BEST amazing performance yet!! We drove straight to the competition and found a nice place to sit down and watch the races.


Me and my friends Lewis and Jack were called up to do the under 12½ double dinghy heat and we won by a mile!!! We were so happy but tired and unfortunately the under 12½ gig heat with; Me, Lewis, Ben, Jake and Jack coxing us was straight afterwards. We went to the start line and started the race but as me and Lewis had just had a race and we were on 1st stroke and 2nd stroke (the 2 stronger rowers) we didn't have as much power as we should of, we could have won if we had a rest break, but we lost (Thought it was a close race). Ben Also took part in the under 12½ Kayaking heats. He came won his race and went through to the semi's as well.

The under 14 double dinghy crew was Hugo, big Jake with Stefan coxing. They did amazing and won by a mile as well!! So far a good competition for the double dinghy crews. The under 14 gig with Josh J, Ewan, Hugo, big Jake with Eleanor coxing them. They all pulled their hardest and came through with a great win! The under 14 kayak was Josh J, who unfortunately didn't win but he got through in the gig so he could still win a trophy.

After an amazing first day we drove back to our camp and pitched up all our tents and put our personal kit in them. Then with some shoes and cones we made 2 football goals and had a very long game of football and we have no idea who won. While some people were playing football some other people started to build a fire which they made HUGE!!! Meanwhile some leaders were getting us some fish and chips or sausage in batter. After eating all that we carried on to play football while Eleanor briefly died by the camp fire and we had to gather round in a circle round her while small Josh did his voodoo dance and raised her from the dead!! After a very tiring night we all went to bed and had a good nights sleep to get ready for the races the next day.

Sunday:

We woke up bright and way too early for another amazing day of rowing. The under 12½ double dinghy semi final was a breeze and yet again we won by a mile and got into the final!!!

The under 14 gig semi final was a great race and they won again and knocked Leander out of the gig section. The under 14 double dinghy semi final was another amazing win and they also made it to the final. So far 3 wins 3 finals!

The under 16 singles was Freddie and won his heat by a mile and made it through. Then in the under 16 single semi final got a great win and made it to the final, leaving the other boat far far behind again.

The under 16 gig with Freddie, Nathan, Liam, Jaz with Ben coxing but unfortunately they lost their race, but they did really well, and it was neck and neck all the way, Jaz who was 11 years old and rowing Bow Oar in their boat, did amazingly well too, to keep up with the big boys.

The under 18 single was big Josh S, who won his heat and got through to the semis! The under 18 gig with Josh S, Mitch, Xander and Ash with Johnny coxing and they won and got through to the semi final!

The under 12½ double dinghy were racing in the final but came 2nd because our boat got sabotaged and my oar came out twice, if it hadn't come out we would of won! But Mowgli and Sparks said we had perfect pulling all the way, and were very proud of us!

The under 14 double dinghy final was an amazing race and we won but the umpires said that leander won but thats a lie we won and we appealed but it didn't work and we were placed 2nd, even though everyones knows that we actually won. The under 14 gig final was another amazing race and beat them by a boats length and got the trophy!

The under 18 single unfortunately lost the semi final and didn't get through. The under 18 gig also lost their semi final race as well and unfortunately didn't get through either.

So at the end of the weekend we had three second places and one first place. It was our best ever performance ever and we got a trophy and lots of runner up certificates!!!!!

Sparks and Mowgli are so proud of all the 4th Streatham crews that took part in the races over the weekend, and look forward to next year.